Just released from the FGDC... a look back at 2008
From the FGDC Chair... I am pleased to announce the release of the Federal Geographic Data Committee’s (FGDC) 2008 Annual Report, which highlights some of the year’s exciting activities across the geospatial landscape. The theme for this year’s report is how geospatial data provide critical support for wildfire response.
FGDC Highlights of 2008:
1. Geospatial Line of Business - The participants in the Geospatial Line of Business (Geospatial LoB) initiative developed a strategic plan for achieving key goals and deliverables for the initiative and for the FGDC overall. The milestones and tasks within the strategic plan reflect a bottom-up analysis by each of the six Geospatial LoB work groups.
2. National Geospatial Advisory Committee - In January 2008, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne named 28 individuals to serve on the new National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC). The NGAC was established to provide advice and recommendations on Federal geospatial policy and management issues and to provide a forum to convey views representative of partners in the geospatial community.
3. Fifty States Initiative 2008 - This year marks the third year of the Fifty States Initiative. The primary focus of the Fifty States Initiative is the development of strategic and business plans for geospatial coordination statewide. As of September 2008, 17 States had finished developing their plans and several additional States had plans that were nearly completed.
4. International Activities - The FGDC continues to work closely with the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) organization. This year, the FGDC helped organize and conduct the GSDI–10 conference held in Trinidad and Tobago in February 2008 and supported this year’s GSDI Small Grants Program. Responsibility for regional GSDI newsletters was transferred to the respective regions, which was a significant milestone.
5. Geospatial One-Stop - The Geospatial One-Stop (GOS) portal is the official means for accessing metadata resources managed in the National Spatial Data Infrastructure Clearinghouse Network. Metadata held by Federal, State, Tribal, and local entities, and by academic and nonprofit organizations, and the private sector are published through the Clearinghouse Network at www.geodata.gov.
6. Standards - Standards are critical to the development, sharing, and use of geospatial data. The FGDC develops geospatial data standards for implementing the NSDI, in consultation and cooperation with State, Tribal, and local governments; academic institutions; the private sector; and, to the extent feasible, the international community.
7. Imagery for the Nation - The goal of the IFTN program is that “the Nation will have a sustainable and flexible digital imagery program that meets the needs of local, State, regional, Tribal and Federal agencies.” The IFTN is being designed as a Federal program conducted in partnership with State and local governments.
8. New Executive Committee - In fiscal year 2008, the FGDC Executive Committee was established as a component of the FGDC Steering Committee. The Executive Committee was organized to facilitate action on key activities such as Imagery for the Nation (IFTN) initiative.
Top iPhone related GIS and Geo Tech news stories from 2009 - At the end of the year its always interesting for us to look at some of the stats and results to identify trends and more important, to see what our readers think is hot! In the "news" category it seems that iPhone related geo tech items were extremely popular.
Geo Social Location Checkin to Twitter from iPhone - With the cool SXSW event taking place Austin, TX, everyone who's anyone in social and social location seems to have rolled out updates this week, making your choice for how to check-in to your social media bookmarks even tougher to decide on!
10 Awesome GIS and Mapping apps for the iPhone - I recall last year at the ESRI UC when an iPhone was on stage showing a prototype app (think ArcPad on iPhone). It was then that I realized the iPhone platform is going to be BIG in mapping and there's a ton of opportunity for developers.
Nokia Booklet 3G, unboxing video and image gallery... Those of you in the USA who pop in to BestBuy occasionally, you may have seen a stand showing off the Nokia Booklet 3G. A sleek, 3G enabled, SIM slot (AT&T) sporting netbook.
Interesting Tweeple - 10 Geo Technology & Geo-Social Women of Twitter - given the growing love for geospatial and location-aware technologies, I’ve decided to hype 10 women that I feel make a significant contribution to the Geo-Twittersphere. If you’d like to add 10 knowledgeable and useful Twitter contacts to your Geo following list I highly suggest the following: (in no particular order)
10 Geo Social Location-Aware Apps Making Waves... With Twitter's opening of their location API to developers there's going to be a ton of third party apps that will enable Twitter users to share location-aware information via their Twitter accounts.
Signs that indicate you may be a GeoGeek (aka. GeoNerd) and some suggested Geo blogs - Chances are good that if you are a Geo Geek then you already know it and likely refer to yourself as one. However, there’s many of you out there that may be on the fence and wondering… “am I a Geo Geek?" Read on for a comprehensive list of signs you might be a GeoGeek followed up by some suggested Geoblog reading.
Real-time GPS Mapping and GIS Solution Aids Efficient Disaster Management - Saturday, February 7, 2009 will forever be known as Black Saturday in the State of Victoria, Australia. In the midst of a 10-year drought, a record breaking heat wave descended upon the state, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees C (110-120 deg F), breaking all-time record highs in some cities - Victoria Police Use Trimble Juno SC Handhelds to Speed Assessment of Damage Caused by Bush Fires.
2010 ESRI Federal User Conference February 17-19, 2010, Washington D.C. Walter E. Washington Convention Center - The FedUC is the largest geospatial conference for federal agencies. Connect with other leaders, decision makers, and GIS professionals.
The International LiDAR Mapping Forum 2010 - Tenth Anniversary Event! ILMF 2010 will be held from March 3 - 5, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency in Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
The NAVTEQ 2010 Global LBS Challenge Awards Ceremony will be held during Ignite at O'Reilly Where 2.0. Be among the first to hear as NAVTEQ announces the winners for the North America region. Participants will be competing for a global prize pool of $10 million and growing by showcasing pre-commercial location-enabled apps using NAVTEQ map data & products. March 30, 2010, during Ignite Where, 7:30pm - 9:00pm, at the Marriott San Jose, CA
WHERE2.0 2010 - Now in its sixth year, the Where 2.0 Conference is where the grassroots and leading edge developers building location-aware technology intersect with the businesses and entrepreneurs seeking out location apps, platforms, and hardware to gain a competitive edge. For 15% use Discount Code: whr10lbs
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